UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, FISH - USA: (GEORGIA)
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Date: Mon 23 May 2011
Source: Savanna Now, Savannah Morning News [edited] <http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-05-23/ogeechee-fish-kill-unsolved>
Effingham County Emergency Management Agency director Walter Wright points to a dead redbreast Monday [23 May 2011] found in the Ogeechee River near the Effingham-Bulloch county line. Wright posted signs at the river warning residents to not swim or consume any fish from the Ogeechee.
The discovery of thousands of dead, dying, and blistered fish on the Ogeechee River from Screven to Bryan County prompted the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to shut down activities in the river and investigate the cause of the fish kill.
The EPD advises against swimming or consuming fish taken from the Ogeechee River in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Screven Counties.
Results from tests on water, sediment, and tissue samples are expected to produce further guidance by mid-week.
Fish kills can stem from low oxygen levels in water, diseases, or chemical spills.
In trying to pinpoint the cause of this kill, the EPD inspected King America Finishing Inc., a Screven County textile processor whose treated wastewater flows into the Ogeechee.
Company president Mike Beasley said Monday [23 May 2011] he was unaware of any spill, but cooperated fully with the EPD. By late Monday afternoon, inspectors cleared the facility.
"EPD and EPA reps have completed an investigation of the King Finishing facility today and cannot find any potential or possibility that this facility has had any sort of upset at their wastewater treatment plant, release or spill of anything," said Al Frazier, EPD emergency response network manager. King is the only large industrial facility with significant discharge to the Ogeechee, he added. The company's 175 employees process more than 50 million yards [45.72 million m] of fabric annually, applying specialized finishes such as fire retardants and water-resistant coatings.
Tim Barrett, a Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor based in Richmond Hill, began investigating reports of dead fish Friday [20 May 2011]. "We've seen a range of fish: redbreast, blue gill, black crappie, catfish," he said. "We have seen even bowfin and darters."
Barrett and his crew counted 550 dead fish Saturday [21 May 2011], though there were undoubtedly more that sank or were eaten by turtles, snakes, and birds, he said.
Conditions on the Ogeechee didn't seem ripe for a natural dip in oxygen that can kill fish, Barrett said. "We took dissolved oxygen readings but we've not seen a dissolved oxygen sag that would kill fish," he said. "It's really hot, and there are low flows, but we haven't found any low dissolved oxygen readings today."
By the end of the day Monday [23 May 2011] the kill area ranged from Screven County just below King America Finishing Inc. to south of US 80 in Bryan County. It could spread into Chatham today, Barrett said.
With the main manufacturer cleared by EPD and oxygen readings not at a dangerous level, regulators are scratching their heads until more information comes in. "We're waiting on lab test results," said EPD spokesman Kevin Chambers. "We'll be seeing what, if anything, they can tell us."
The nonprofit Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization is also conducting fish and water sample tests with a University of Georgia lab and a North Carolina lab.
Riverkeeper Dianna Wedincamp was unhappy with the slow response from officials as evidence of the fish kill became apparent. The EPD issued an advisory Sunday afternoon [22 May 2011]. But that left plenty of people exposed, she said. "People were in the river; they were swimming in the river," she said. "There were kids in the river.
People were having fish fries from the fish they were catching."
Effingham Emergency Management director Walter Wright on Monday [23 May 2011] put up signs at Steel Bridge boat landing on Ga. 119 at the Effingham-Bulloch county line warning residents not to swim or to consume fish, even those caught in the Ogeechee as far back as early last week. He said the water doesn't smell or look strange.
"We're asking all residents to stay out of the Ogeechee," Wright said. "... we are seeing a lot dead in Effingham County. They are blistered from something. As of right now, we don't know what's killing them."
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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
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[It is understandable to look to a manufacturing plant first.
However, it makes me wonder who else has dumped something inappropriate into the water. Perhaps, someone disposing of household waste? A truck filled with some chemicals has overturned in the river?
I am reminded of an incident where a company was blamed for a situation and while there was no leak, there was less disinfectant applied to the effluent than was appropriate. Could this be a case of something similar?
If this number of fish are dead in a relatively local area, and the officials are worried about it spreading, then a couple of things come to mind. It is not likely a point source emission or dilution will not solve the problem here.
Hopefully necropsies and testing of affected fish will yield clues and results.
Photos
Redbreast:
<http://www.centralfloridafishingreport.com/FishProfile/131.html>
Bluegill:
<http://www.freshwater-fishing-news.com/2010/08/bluegill-sunfish-pictures/>
Darter:
<http://www.natureatcloserange.com/2008/06/redline-darter.html>
Bowfin:
<http://seapics.com/feature-subject/fish/bowfin-pictures.html>
Black Croppie:
<http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/Images/fishing/fish/Black%20Crappie%20by%20BZ.JPG>
Catfish:
<http://www.underwaterfishphotos.com/catfish.html>. - Mod.TG]
[The state of Georgia can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/0Tvi>. A Georgia county map can be seen at <http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/county-map/georgia.shtml>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
[see also:
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (05): (OH, Lake Erie) walleye
20110518.1505
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (04): (WI) crappie 20110508.142 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (CA): domoic acid susp.
20110313.0814
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (03): (AR), RFI 20110107.008 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (02): (MD) 20110106.0058 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (AR), freshwater drum 20110104.0035 2010
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Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (16): (NE, NY) 20100828.3068 Undiagnosed die off, fish - USA (15): (MS) 20100807.2694 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (14): (CA) 20100805.2640] .................................................sb/tg/mj/lm;ll
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